Business | Talking Point
CEO, Fespa
Networking is a key part of our offering and something that sets us apart from other exhibition organisers. At our events, we actively facilitate networking in our Club Fespa Lounge, where Fespa members connect, and through the annual Fespa Party.
Our feature programme for this year is specifically designed to invite interaction and networking. The new Digital Signage Lounge, the Personalise Make Wear area and the Sustainability Spotlight showcase all offer specific areas for networking and meetings. We’re hosting a series of workshops and expert-led sessions, encouraging visitors to engage, speak directly to industry leaders, and meet with like-minded professionals. We’re also taking a more casual, interactive approach
to our Personalisation Experience and Sportswear Pro conferences this year, to foster meaningful conversations between visitors and our expert presenters. Our Fespa event app is also designed to promote peer- to-peer networking by enabling visitors to see each others’ profiles and connect with others with similar interests. Of course, networking isn’t just limited to these exhibitions in Amsterdam in March, we have global shows around the world, and our associations run over 400 events each year, many of which are centred around networking.
The first Wrap Fest last year proved a real hit and of course, will be repeated this autumn. Are there other vertical markets where you see similar opportunities for spin-off events in Europe? Yes, the inaugural Wrap Fest was really well received by exhibitors and visitors, and we look forward to building on that success in its second year. Our focus on delivering tailored event content for other
key vertical markets is clear to see. For example, our brand new Sportswear Pro event builds on our heritage in garment printing and delves deeper into sportswear manufacturing, from design to production and decoration. We also identified personalisation as a significant growth opportunity that a lot of brands and print businesses weren’t yet capitalising on, which is why we launched Personalisation Experience in 2023, with the second edition taking place in Amsterdam this March. In each of our existing events, we see further opportunities
for development and diversification. For example, Wrap Fest is largely a car-based event currently, but architectural wrapping is another significant part of the wrapping market, that we’re keen to address in future events.
I have to ask about sustainability, a growing issue as Fespa’s own Print Census highlighted. You will again have the Sustainability Spotlight feature at Fespa Global, but no conference on the topic. Are we to expect a standalone event on this - or any other topic - at some point soon? Sustainability is vital for businesses across all markets so it’s really important to us to integrate it into everything we do and every topic we talk about. Because of that, our focus is less on delivering a standalone conference on sustainability, and more on offering tailored advice for each specific market. For example, both our Personalisation Experience and Sportswear Pro conferences will incorporate sustainability content geared specifically to these audiences. We also hosted a range of sessions around sustainability during our Flex events in the Middle East. We’ve received very positive feedback on the current
format of the Sustainability Spotlight feature and there are no current plans to host a stand-alone event. Last year, recognising the importance of sustainability to our entire community, we decided to deliver all our educational resources on this topic via an online hub, which extends access to this valuable content beyond those printers who aren’t in a position to visit a Fespa show. We’re also currently working on new sustainability guides, as well as expanding our editorial content to guide our community as they progress their own plans in this area. Our mission to educate and support printers on their sustainability journey also extends to our global associations, several of which are planning sustainability projects throughout 2024. Some examples are the Sustainable Waste Academy Courses for Suppliers and Waste Producers, hosted by Fespa UK, and the environmental message guide that Fespa Spain has developed for its members.
As a not-for-profit organisation, Fespa feeds significant funds back into industry projects. Can you reiterate what these will cover in relation to the UK in 2024 - and beyond…? In 2024, we’re supporting over 15 association projects around the world through the Fespa Profit for Purpose reinvestment fund. One prominent example from Fespa UK is the Next Generation Workshop and Networking Day. Building on Fespa UK’s youth engagement activities throughout 2023, the workshop focusses on networking and customer relationship management skills in the print, signage and graphics industries. Supporting the next generation of printers is very important to us, so we’re thrilled to support this initiative.
www.imagereportsmag.co.uk | 13
WRAP FEST IS LARGELY A
CAR-BASED EVENT CURRENTLY, BUT ARCHITECTURAL WRAPPING IS ANOTHER
SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE WRAPPING MARKET, THAT WE’RE KEEN TO ADDRESS IN FUTURE EVENTS
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